Unusual fruit with the original name: "Red Banana" tomato - why it is good and how to grow it yourself

Red banana is a tomato that many gardeners love for its original appearance and interesting taste. The variety appeared as a result of the work of Russian breeders.

Consider why the vegetable received such an unusual name and how to grow a rich harvest of Red Banana in your area.

Description of the variety

The variety is early maturing, appreciated by gardeners for its high yield. In addition, tomato has a high immunity to major crop diseases. Banana red is grown both in the south of the country and in the northern regions. In addition to Russia, the variety is popular in neighboring countries, for example, in Moldova and Ukraine.

Subspecies Banana orange

This variety is characterized as determinant plant, bushes reach a height of about 1.5 m. The roots and stem are powerful. Tomatoes have a bright reddish orange color and a dense skin.

Ripening times are average, gardeners collect the first crop in about 110 days from the moment of planting. The fruits are small, elongated and oval in shape. The average weight of one is about 110 g. About 4 kg of tomatoes are harvested from one bush.

Tomatoes are well stored and transported over long distances. They ripen under room conditions. Banana orange is versatile in application, it manifests itself well both fresh and after heat treatment. It does not lose useful properties and vitamins, it is considered an excellent natural antioxidant.

Distinctive features

Tomato Red banana forms bushes about 1 m high. On the main stem, brushes and stepsons are formed. As the plant grows, it is necessary to tie the stem to a support, otherwise it may break under the weight of ripe tomatoes.

Banana red forms ovaries well in all weather conditions. Leaves resemble potato in type, the color is dark green.

Characteristics of tomatoes, productivity

Tomatoes have a plum-shaped elongated shape, which is why they got this name. The average length of a vegetable is about 6 cm, but some specimens reach a length of 12 cm. The average weight of a tomato is about 100 g. The color is classic, deep red. The skin is dense, so tomatoes rarely crack.

The pulp is dense and juicy, there are few seeds. Tomatoes are high in sugars and acids. In addition, Banana red is distinguished by its presentable appearance and high commercial qualities.

At least 3 kg of beautiful and juicy tomatoes are harvested from each bush. In greenhouse conditions, vegetables ripen until November, thereby increasing the total amount of the crop.

How to plant seedlings

Growing seedlings helps plants better adapt to external environmental conditions and get a good harvest in the future.

Seed preparation

Quality seeds are the key to a successful harvest. They should only be purchased from trusted locations and from reliable suppliers. Read the manufacturer's information and fit recommendations carefully. Disinfect the material after purchase.

For this, a regular solution of potassium permanganate is suitable. Next, place the seed in the freezer overnight. Hardening will help the plant withstand frost and bad weather more easily.

The final stage of seed preparation is soaking.Place the seeds in a damp cotton pad. This is necessary for the seeds to germinate faster and give the first shoots. Make sure that the seeds do not dry out. Do not allow too much moisture.

Capacity and soil

Seedling containers and soil can be purchased at the store. This will save you time and effort, but you will have to spend a little money. If you'd like to cook your own soil, here's a simple recipe.

You will need soil from the garden, peat, ash and sand. Please note that the ground must be decontaminated before this. For example, pour boiling water over it - this will kill all harmful germs and bacteria. A mixture of these ingredients will create a fertile soil for future seedlings.

Important! With capacity, things are even easier. Seedlings are planted in both flower pots and wooden boxes. The main thing is to make sure that the container is clean and dry.

Sowing

After preparing the seeds, container and soil, start sowing seedlings. Pour the prepared soil into the container and make small pits about 1 cm deep in it.Place in them seed and sprinkle with earth on top. Next, pour plenty of warm water over the seedlings.

Growing and care

It is necessary to grow seedlings in a bright and warm place. If there is not enough natural light, use additional lighting. Water the sprouts carefully, observing the regimen. It is best to let the water flow directly under the root, bypassing the leaves. High humidity is unacceptable, as there is a risk of developing fungal diseases.

After 10 days from the moment of planting, it is recommended to carry out the first feeding. This is done with a solution of hot water and bird droppings. Seedlings should be hardened 2-3 weeks before planting in the ground. For example, put containers out on the street every day for 2 hours. And the day before landing, put them on the street for a day.

How to grow tomatoes

For a good harvest, you must follow the basic agrotechnical rules.

Landing

It is better to prepare the ground in the fall. It is necessary to dig up the soil and apply fertilizers to it, for example, a mixture of compost and superphosphate. In the spring, it is recommended to fertilize the site with potash dressings. Banana red is planted after all frosts have passed.

Important! The roots should be carefully pressed with earth from all sides. After planting, the sprouts need abundant watering.

Care

Every 10-12 days, the earth needs to be loosened. This simple operation saturates the soil with oxygen and makes it more airy. In addition to loosening, tomatoes need regular and timely watering. Remember to avoid getting water on leaves and stems. The best time for watering is the afternoon and cloudy weather. Also, watering is required before applying mineral fertilizers and before loosening the soil.

Throughout the cultivation period, "banana" tomatoes are fertilized with organic and mineral fertilizers. The first feeding is required 15 days after planting. A mullein solution, ammonium nitrate, or potassium salt are suitable for this.

It is also important not to forget about pinching bushes and tying them up. Form a bush into one stem, leaving 2-3 brushes. The plant is grown every 10 days. Stepchildren should be removed carefully, without harm to the main stem.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

It is best to tie Red Banana to ordinary wooden pegs. They are placed to the left of the stem at a distance of 10 cm. Bushes with pegs are attached in several stages. The first one - immediately after planting the vegetable, and the second and third - as the plant develops.

As for fertilizers, fertilizing is carried out at intervals of 2 weeks. It is better to add nutrients after loosening the soil. On average, 10 Red Banana bushes take about 1 bucket of nutrient solution.

Important! The moisture content of the soil under the bushes should be no more than 85%, and the humidity of the air should be no more than 50%. After planting, the seedlings are watered and left for three days. Pay attention to weather conditions too.If the summer is hot and dry, increase the amount of moisture. If there is a lot of rain and fog, reduce it.

Diseases and pests

The most common disease among all tomatoes is late blight... So far, agronomists have not yet bred a variety that would have 100% immunity to this disease. Late blight - a fungal infection - manifests itself in the form of brown and dark yellow spots on the leaves.

The causes of the fungus are high humidity and reduced plant immunity. It is recommended to fight late blight with a special remedy "Fitosporin". For prevention, gardeners are advised to use a garlic or saline solution.

Another common disease is black leg. Most often it occurs when growing plants in a greenhouse. For prophylaxis purposes, it is recommended to make a soil lime and wood ash. And if the blackleg has already infected the vegetables, immediately treat the bushes with a solution of Bordeaux liquid.

Of pests note the wireworm and the bear. These insects eat the roots and stems of the bush, as a result of which the latter's metabolism is disturbed. If the necessary measures are not taken in time, the plant will die. For pest control, eggshells, garlic tincture and spraying with milk whey are used.

The nuances of growing in an open field and a greenhouse

Remember to remove weeds, whatever the growing conditions. Protect tomatoes from them constantly, from the first days of planting. It is best to do this together with hilling or loosening the soil. Huddle bushes at least three times per season.

Remember also about micronutrient fertilizers. Banana Red needs magnesium and boron the most. Due to their lack, the bushes are crumbling. For feeding, take 1 g of boric acid and dissolve it in 1 liter of water. The resulting mixture spray the beds in the afternoon.

If you plant tomatoes in greenhousethen also remember to maintain optimal heat and humidity levels. Ventilate greenhouses, open windows and doors. Also, ventilate every time 2 hours after watering. The temperature in the greenhouse on a cloudy day should be about 20 degrees, and on a hot day - no more than 25.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The ripening period for the variety is extended, so they enjoy delicious vegetables for a long time. Banana red has an excellent ability to ripen on its own after being plucked from a bush. To do this, the tomatoes are placed in a wooden box or basin and covered with a towel on top.

Due to the high content of vitamins and minerals, tomato is used for baby and diet food. The vegetable is suitable for cooking vegetable stews, salads, pasta, canned or jerky dishes.

In preparations for the winter, the variety looks especially beautiful and appetizing, housewives love to use Red Banana as the basis for whole pickling.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive characteristics of the variety include:

• the possibility of growing in any regions of Russia;
• high productivity regardless of climatic conditions;
• immunity to pests and diseases;
• original appearance;
• high taste;
• versatility in use;
• high keeping quality;
• resistance to transportation.

Of the minuses of the Banana Red variety, we note:

• compulsory bush formation, as well as garter and pinching;
• due to the high dry matter content, it is not always possible to prepare tomato juice - it turns out to be too thick.

Farmers reviews

Let's see what experienced farmers and novice gardeners have to say about Banana Red.

Anastasia, Barnaul: “I planted many varieties on my site, but Banana red was the most productive for me. I am happy to use beautiful, neat tomatoes in salads and canning. I grow tomatoes in a greenhouse, I'm very happy. "

Larisa, Volgograd: “I grow the variety all the time in open beds. I am in no hurry to harvest.Banana red, in my opinion, is inferior in taste to some other popular tomatoes. Therefore, it is best to use the variety in pickled or dried form, and for salads, use other tomatoes that are richer in taste. "

Valentina, Zlatoust: “I planted a variety for the first time. I will not say that he surprised me very much. It tastes ordinary, moreover, you need to carefully look after the bushes. The beds are quickly overgrown with weeds, so it takes a long time to care for them. "

Conclusion

According to its characteristics and description, the Red Banana variety has a number of distinctive features. It is perfect for lovers of everything unusual. These tomatoes will decorate any festive table. Tomatoes go well with fish and meat and complement side dishes well. The only drawback of the variety is that it cannot be used to make tomato juice.

The care is standard, but there are a number of features. It is necessary to form a bush, remove weeds, fertilize, tie up plants and remove stepchildren. In addition, do not forget about timely organic fertilizing and mineral fertilizers.